When people think about the common causes of auto accidents, they usually think about motorists who drive too fast – but slow driving can be just as dangerous. A new ‘Slow Poke’ law in the Palmetto State prohibits motorists from cruising in the left-hand lane on South Carolina interstates.
The law, officially named the ‘Move Right’ law, bans drivers from using the left-hand lane of South Carolina interstates unless they’re passing another vehicle or they need to exit from the left-hand side of the highway.
Charleston County Lance Corporal Nick Pye says the law is aimed at preventing slower drivers from becoming a hazard on the road.
“You get somebody in the left lane who is going 45 or 50 miles per hour which is 10 less than the speed limit. And if there’s not a weather condition causing you to do that or traffic is not causing you to do that, then you get someone that is running the speed limit 60 miles per an hour, they come up on somebody quickly. Unfortunately, collisions happen,” Pye told ABC News 4.
He added that the law should lead to less congestion and allow for easier left-lane access for first responders and law enforcement officers.
Those who violate the new law can expect to pay a fine of $25.
In an effort to inform motorists of the new law, the South Carolina Department of Transportation has been tasked with installing signs which say ‘State law: Slower traffic move right’ on interstates. The signs have been placed approximately every 35 miles. The same message is being placed on the overhead electronic boards found on interstates.
South Carolina ranks 31st in traffic congestion in the US, and #2 for traffic fatalities. Most of the congestion takes place in the Lowcountry.
Auto accidents in South Carolina happen for a variety of reasons, from reckless or negligent drivers to motorists who get behind the wheel while intoxicated. When an innocent motorist is seriously injured due to no fault of their own, it can leave them lost in a sea of medical bills – and if a person dies in an auto accident that wasn’t their fault, their family can be left with those bills, along with funeral costs and other major expenses.
If you’ve fallen victim to someone else’s reckless or negligent actions on a South Carolina roadway, it is highly advised that you contact a personal injury lawyer. Only a qualified attorney can help you recover the compensation you’re owed, taking into account current and future medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. If you’ve lost a loved one in a car accident, you may be qualified to file a wrongful death lawsuit in order to recover compensation.
The attorneys at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates understand that nothing can take away the physical and emotional pain inflicted by a serious auto accident, but they do know how to lessen the burden. Our attorneys are highly skilled at fighting for car accident victims, and know how to stand up against stubborn insurance companies who will do everything they can to avoid paying out a fair sum.
McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates has offices across the Midlands of South Carolina, in Aiken, Camden, Columbia, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Sumter.
Call us today at 803-590-9197. It won’t cost you anything to see if we can help.®
